Steven Gerrard’s first transfer window in charge of Rangers has been an incredibly hectic one so far as he attempts to stamp his own personal mark on the club ahead of the new season, but there is reason to suggest that he has not finished building his perfect attack just yet.
Rangers have already completed the signings of 10 new players this summer ahead of a huge season for Gerrard on his debut campaign in senior management. The new players will be hoping to impress the manager before the season gets underway with plenty of individuals fighting for a place in the starting eleven.
The arrival of Umar Sadiq should provide Alfredo Morelos with some fresh competition at the spearhead of the attack next season, but the Nigerian’s limited experience in European football could ultimately count against him next season.
Time is running out for Gerrard to make further additions to his squad, but he should certainly be in the market for another centre-forward this summer if he has genuine ambitions of challenging Celtic for the SPFL title.
How exactly Gerrard will set up his side next season remains to be seen, although early indications suggest he will line up with a 4-5-1 formation without the ball which will turn into a 4-3-3 in possession, so the two wide players will form a crucial part of the attack next season.
With that being said, here’s what Rangers’ dream attacking front-three could look like next season…Fernando Llorente (valued at £6.3 million by transfermarkt) found the back of the net on a consistent basis throughout his career in La Liga, Serie A and the Premier League, until he moved to Tottenham last season.
With Harry Kane firmly ahead of him in the pecking order, Llorente struggled for opportunities and his rhythm suffered as a consequence.
But that should not deter Rangers from expressing an interest this summer as the Spaniard’s history in the game suggests he could play a crucial role at Ibrox and offer a strong physical presence at centre-forward.
Gerrard will certainly be in no rush to replace Alfredo Morelos, but if he can bring the reportedly available striker to Ibrox the Colombian would almost certainly fall down the pecking order next season.
Ryan Kent is the third player to arrive at the club from Liverpool this summer after Ovie Ejaria and Jon Flanagan.
The 21-year-old left-winger is a promising talent with a huge point to prove after unsuccessful spells with both SC Freiburg and Bristol City last season, and Gerrard could reap the rewards if he is willing to put plenty of trust in his ability.
Kent has a tendency to drift in from the left-side onto his favoured right-boot where he can use his creative qualities to great effect, and his quality in this regard could make him an elusive asset for the club.
After experiencing plenty of disappointment in his career so far, this could finally be the year for Kent to make a name for himself.
Daniel Candeias is the only survivor from the previous campaign due to the quality of his form with the Gers following his arrival from Benfica in July 2017.
The Portuguese midfielder has played in a central role for the majority of his career, but he enjoyed plenty of success on the right-wing last season with 8 goals and 13 assists to his name from 45 appearances.
At 30-years-of-age he is not a player who relies on electric speed for success and, with a target man of Llorente’s stature to aim for, his technical quality would shine through once again next season.
